Upward-Firing Speaker Driver for Reflected Audio Height Cues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spatial audio systems, such as Dolby Atmos, require expensive and impractical ceiling-mounted speakers to replicate overhead sound sources in home environments, making it difficult for consumers to enjoy immersive 3D audio experiences without the necessary equipment.
Innovation Solution
A speaker design featuring an upward-firing full-range driver and a direct-firing tweeter, mounted at a specific inclination angle, which reflects sound off the ceiling to simulate overhead audio sources, using a virtual height filter to compensate for direct and reflected sound cues, allowing for cost-effective and practical playback of adaptive audio content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ceiling-mounted speakers are used to replicate overhead sound sources, then spatial audio accuracy is improved, but device cost and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting speakers on the ceiling to project sound downward, this patent inverts the approach by mounting speakers on the floor or wall and projecting sound upward to reflect off the ceiling. The upward-firing drivers at 45-60 degree angles send sound to ceiling reflection points, which then bounce the sound down to create overhead audio effects without requiring ceiling installation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses upward-firing speakers to create a virtual copy of the overhead sound experience. By reflecting sound off the ceiling, the system creates a virtual image of the sound source above the listener, replicating the effect of ceiling-mounted speakers without the installation complexity
2Measurement precision
If ceiling-mounted speakers are installed, then overhead sound reproduction is improved, but ease of installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses the traditional overhead speaker configuration by placing speakers on the floor or wall with upward-firing drivers. This inversion allows sound to be projected upward to ceiling reflection points, creating overhead audio effects without requiring ceiling mounting, thereby dramatically simplifying installation while maintaining spatial accuracy
3Measurement precision
If multiple speakers are distributed around a theater, then audio immersion is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upward-firing speaker design serves multiple functions: it provides direct sound output, creates reflected overhead sound, and can be positioned to contribute to both front and surround audio fields. This multi-functionality allows fewer speakers to achieve immersive spatial audio compared to traditional configurations requiring separate ceiling-mounted and floor-standing speakers
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables immersive 3D audio experiences in home environments by simulating overhead sound sources using affordable and easily installable speakers, providing effective playback of adaptive audio content with improved spatial accuracy and immersion.
Implementation Method 1
an upward-firing full-range driver mounted to a sloping surface of the cabinet and oriented at an inclination angle of between 18 degrees to 22 degrees relative to a horizontal axis... configured to reflect sound off a reflection point on a ceiling of the listening environment
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to an upward-firing speaker that reflects sound off a ceiling to a listening location at a distance from a speaker. The reflected sound provides height cues to reproduce audio objects that have overhead audio components. The speaker comprises a direct-firing tweeter and an upward-firing full-range driver in a unitary enclosure for playback of front-channel and height-channel signals, respectively. A crossover passes high frequencies of a front-channel signal directly to the tweeter and combines low frequencies of the front-channel signal with the height channel signal to be played through the full-range driver. A virtual height filter is applied to the height channel signal to improve the perception of height for audio signals transmitted by the virtual height speaker to provide optimum reproduction of the overhead reflected sound.